DeLorme Earthmate GPS PN-30 Handheld GPS

Expert Review

There are a whole lot of things to like about DeLorme's GPS unit. You get a wide range of maps that come with the PN-30 and the capacity to load even more topographic and street maps for all of North America. The Earthmate is one of the quickest receivers on our list, with a 32-channel STMicroelectrics Cartesio chipset that ensures fast signal acquisition and a dual core processor that will load your maps in seconds at high resolution. DeLorme's ConstantLock satellite retention will make sure you can find a signal even in densely wooded environments. To make sure you're always up to date, the company offers a yearly map subscription service that constantly updates your archive with official USGS and NOAA topography in addition to aerial maps of the latest overhead views, all in high-resolution full color imagery. But what really makes this GPS unit the best of the bunch is the ability to reproduce the most accurate view of your surroundings for the truest certainty of rivers, landmarks, trail markers, whatever you're approaching, so you know exactly where they are at any given time. The unit's tri-axial compass and accelerometer can give you the most precise reading no matter how you're holding it in your hand or in your pocket. The PN-30 is IPX7 rated waterproof which means you can submerge the device for brief periods of time and comes in a rubberized cabinet that is impact-resistant up to one meter. It runs on two AA batteries which are included, and the unit can handle all kinds of bad weather, including heat of up to 167 degrees Fahrenheit.Rating: 5/5